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Coordinating: Incident Command System

Communities and MRC units should adopt the Incident Command System (ICS) as the management system for response to emergencies and disasters. The ICS contains the attributes necessary for efficient, well-coordinated emergency operations. The ICS defines:

Operating characteristics
Interactive management components
Structure of incident management and emergency response organizations engaged throughout the life cycle of an incident.

This management system allows MRC units to be integrated into the emergency response system used by emergency services agencies, local public health departments, and healthcare institutions nationwide.

ICS was developed by representatives of local, state, and Federal fire agencies in Southern California in the 1970s to respond more effectively to the complexities of fighting large wildfires that often crossed jurisdictional boundaries, involving multiple agencies and organizations. Since then, Federal, state, tribal, and local governments and many private-sector and non-governmental organizations have used ICS for numerous emergencies. These emergencies range from small to complex incidents, both natural and manmade, and include acts of catastrophic terrorism.

Many emergencies involve response from multiple disciplines and may involve multiple jurisdictions. ICS, because of its standardized organizational structure and common terminology, provides a useful and flexible management system adaptable to incidents involving multiple jurisdictions and agencies.

The primary features of ICS are that it:

Provides the flexibility to rapidly activate and establish an organizational form around the functions needing to be performed to efficiently and effectively mitigate an emergency.
Can be used for any type or size of emergency, ranging from a minor incident involving only a few members of the emergency organization, to a major incident involving multiple agencies and/or jurisdictions.
Allows agencies throughout a community and at all government levels (and non-governmental and private-sector organizations) to communicate using common terminology and operating procedures.
Allows for the timely acquisition of a combination of resources during an emergency.
Develops its organizational structure modularly, based on the type and size of the incident
- The organization's staff builds from the top down. Five sections can be developed, each with several units established as needed.
- The specific organizational structure established for any given emergency will be based on the incident’s management and resource needs.

Basic Incident Command System Organizational Structure

Integral parts of the basic ICS organizational structure consist of:

Command—Sets objectives and priorities and has the overall responsibility at the incident or event.
Operations—Conducts tactical operations to implement the plan and develops the tactical objectives and necessary organization. Directs all resources.
Planning—Develops the action plan to accomplish the objectives. Collects and evaluates information and maintains resource status.
Logistics—Provides support to meet incident needs. Provides resources and all other services needed to support the incident.
Finance and administration—Monitors costs related to incidents; and provides accounting, procurement, time recording, and cost analyses.

The basic ICS organizational structure is contained in Appendix A.

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Last Updated on 8/18/2006